Type of Setting, Employee Substance Abuse, and Hypothetical Supervisors' Eap Referrals

Abstract

This analogue study investigated 90 hypothetical supervisors' EAP referral behaviors with three subordinates: cocaine abusers, alcohol abusers, and non-abusers. It also examined supervisors' behaviors across three work environments: manufacturing company, high school, and hospital. Relying on Bayer and Gerstein's Bystander Model of Supervisory Helping Behavior, we predicted that cocaine abusers would be referred more often than alcohol or non-abusers. We also anticipated higher referral rates in the school setting compared to the other work environments. ANOVA results supported our first hypothesis, but not our second prediction. Interpretations are offered based on Bayer and Gerstein's propositions concerning how supervisors' helping behavior might be influenced by the severity of an employee's problem, the costs associated with intervening, levels of supervisory arousal, and the degree of “we-ness” supervisors may have experienced with their impaired subordinates.